April 18th was a special day for me because of two different reasons. One, I made it to my 35th birthday and second, my little sister the "Raging" Beauty" Isra Girgrah finally landed a big fight with unbeaten Laura Serrano. The fight was telecast live on ESPN2 Friday Night Fights. Well, as I sat there in the wee hours of the morning because ESPN2 decided to run a hockey game in the 10:00 PM time slot instead of showing the fights live, they had a delay.

Before I go into this piece, I want to tell the boxing readers why I am writing it. When I woke up this AM, I was bombarded with emails about my little sister and how she was given a gift decision in a fight that viewers felt that she lost.

Being Isra's big brother, I am not only someone who cares about her, but also her biggest critic. I also thought she lost the fight the first time I viewed the fight. So with some rest, I watched the fight again this time wide awake. What I saw with rested eyes, was a very close fight in which Serrano was the constant aggressor, but not landing all of the many shots she threw. Girgrah was the constant counter puncher, landing big right hands throughout the fight, yet not throwing enough of them.

So you had a fight with one fighter being the aggressor, but not landing as many shots as you would think and the counter puncher landing hard shots, but not enough of them thrown. When the decision was announced, it was a split win for Isra. Girgrah celebrated and Serrano stormed out of the ring upset over her first loss. Being an ex-amateur fighter and having been the loser on close decisions in home towns of other fighters, I thought to myself these judges clearly saw what I couldn't without being there ringside and for them to give Girgrah the decision in Serrano's neck of the woods, meant Girgrah did win it fair and square.

My final assessment of this fight is just this, it was close and it all depends on what you were looking at. The points I mentioned earlier are just that points, but I do feel in the end, Girgrah did enough to win. This is an unbiased opinion because if I thought she lost as I did viewing it the first time, and thought the same thing after the second viewing, I would stick to that opinion no matter what. Now just a few hours ago, my little sister landed back home here in Maryland and called me as I knew she would. The first thing she asked, "Did you think I won the fight?" I gave her the same information I wrote about in this piece. Isra knows that I would not say she won to make her happy and that I really do know about the sport of boxing catching many things the average fight fan doesn't see which comes from being an ex-boxer. Isra being the Class Act that she has always been, said, "Brad, I need to fight her again because the boxing public deserves it."

Many fighters would not want any part of a fighter that has a good solid chance to beat them the first time, let alone take a rematch. But, a true champion like Girgrah wants that rematch because she knows; true champions are defined by real fights.

George Chung promoter of the boxing card is to be commended for putting the females that can fight on TV for a change, when we are subjected to see so many that can't fight. And, that in boxing, we have match ups that make for exciting re matches. I think Girgrah and Serrano should fight again, this time, over 10 rounds and for one of Girgrah's title belts she holds.

As always fight fans, keep reaching for the stars, and all your dreams can be fulfilled.

Email 'Bad' Brad

"Bad" Brad Berkwitt is the Managing Editor at Boxing Time, and successful author of the new boxing book, 'Boxing Interviews of a Lifetime.' The book can be purchased by calling 1-888-280-7715.

4-19-2003

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